𝐀 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐒𝐎 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐒

Chapter 24

Chapter Number/Total: 24/44
Chapter Title: Back to You

Draco looked at the clock and scowled. Harry was late. Of all the inconsiderate, forgetful, bloody thoughtless things to do, and on this day of all days! The blond had been in such a mood that even Kreacher was avoiding him. Draco'd had the elf make a special dinner but was increasingly convinced that he would be more likely to throw it at Harry when he got home rather than sit down at the table with the man.

Harry had been oblivious all day. Nothing said at breakfast nor during any of the Floo calls. Draco had almost broken down and said something during that last one. But if Harry didn't remember, he wasn't going to remind him. No, he wasn't.

Harry stepped in from the chilly air outside, shrunken objects in his pockets and a box in his arms. He kicked the door closed, knowing that Draco would hear it.

Draco was pretending to read a book. He didn't get up from the chair he had plopped into when he heard the door.

"Draco!" Harry called down the hallway, hefting the box. It wasn't exactly very light. "Just got in the door!"

Draco huffed and got to his feet, tossing the book aside, and walked to the door of the sitting room. He leaned against the frame and scowled at Harry.

"Oh, there you are," Harry said. He frowned, but almost wanted to laugh at how adorable Draco looked with his arms crossed over the bump of his stomach. "What?" he asked.

"You are late," Draco said stiffly.

"I know, baby. Sorry," Harry said, shifting the box again. "They gave me all this paperwork to sort through. I didn't even get finished, which is why I had to bring it home." He indicated the box.

Draco's scowl deepened. "You brought work home?!" he asked, his voice almost shrill.

Harry's eyes widened. "Well, I had to," he said.

Draco abruptly turned and went back into the sitting room. For a minute, he thought about breaking things. But his mother had worked so hard on redecorating the place. He wouldn't want to explain to her what had happened. He dropped into the chair, arms still across his chest.

Harry's lips twitched a bit and he almost felt bad. Normally, he would've dropped the box and run to see what was wrong, but instead he opened his mouth and called, "I'm taking this upstairs."

Draco refused to answer, actually slumping in the chair. His mother would have said he was pouting. Not that he would admit that.

Harry wasn't surprised when Draco didn't answer. He climbed the stairs and then went about setting up his "paperwork" all over their bedroom. He took the shrunken things out of his pocket, unshrank them, and laid them on the bed, smiling. Then, to make sure Draco bought it completely, he really had taken a few papers to work on, though he could've finished them.

He made his way back downstairs and into the sitting room. Draco looked adorable again. "What's for dinner?" he asked.

Draco didn't answer, staring a hole in the chair across from him.

Harry frowned again. "Something wrong, love?" he asked.

The blond huffed but still refused to answer.

Harry let out a long sigh. "Well, I'm hungry," he said. "And bloody exhausted. So, I'm going down to eat and try to get a bit of this work done before bed. You're welcome to join me if you want."

Draco was torn between crying or hexing his lover. He actually fingered his wand in the pocket of his robe. Father of my bloody child, he thought angrily. Bloody idiot.